City of Milwaukee - File #: 171760

• File #: 171760
• Version: 1
• Type: Ordinance
• Status: Passed
• File created: 2/27/2018
• In control: PUBLIC SAFETY AND HEALTH COMMITTEE
• Final action: 3/27/2018
• Effective date: 4/14/2018
• Title: A substitute ordinance prohibiting the practice of conversion therapy.
• Sponsors: ALD. JOHNSON, ALD. PEREZ, ALD. ZIELINSKI, ALD. BAUMAN, ALD. KOVAC
• Indexes: PUBLIC HEALTH

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
4/13/2018	1	CITY CLERK	PUBLISHED
4/4/2018	1	MAYOR	SIGNED
3/27/2018	1	COMMON COUNCIL	PASSED; Minutes note: Ald. Borkowski moved to return the file to committee. The motion failed 3-9-3; Alds. Borkowski, Donovan, and Bohl voting aye, Alds. Coggs, Lewis, and Stamper abstaining, and remaining members voting no. Ald. Bauman requested to be added as a co-sponsor. There were no objections.	Pass	12:2
3/8/2018	0	PUBLIC SAFETY AND HEALTH COMMITTEE	SUBSTITUTED; Minutes note: Appearing: Sponsor Ald. Cavallier Tony Snell - City of Milwaukee Equal Rights Commission Shelley Gregory - MKE LGBT Community Center Natalie Zanoni - MKE LGBT Community Center read a statement on behalf of an individual who experienced conversion therapy unsuccessfully. Dr. Bill Cawford - Mount Mary University Kim Skerven - Phycology Instructor at Alverno College Ald. Perez adn Lewis asked to be added as Co-sponsor, there were no objections	Pass	4:0
3/8/2018	0	PUBLIC SAFETY AND HEALTH COMMITTEE	RECOMMENDED FOR PASSAGE	Pass	2:0
2/27/2018	0	COMMON COUNCIL	ASSIGNED TO

Number
171760
Version
SUBSTITUTE 1
Reference

Sponsor
ALD. JOHNSON, PEREZ, ZIELINSKI, BAUMAN AND KOVAC
Title
A substitute ordinance prohibiting the practice of conversion therapy.
Section
75-19 cr
Analysis
This ordinance prohibits the practice of conversion therapy in the city of Milwaukee.
Body
Whereas, Conversion therapy, also known as reparative therapy, is the practice of trying to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity; and

Whereas, Science recognizes that being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender is part of the natural spectrum of human identity and is not a disease, disorder, or illness; and

Whereas, The practice of conversion therapy is based on scientifically unfounded approaches not subject to peer review and is often conducted in a violent and damaging manner; and

Whereas, The American Psychological Association issued a report in 2009 that concluded that conversion therapy can pose critical health risks to lesbian, gay, and bisexual people including depression, suicidality, substance abuse, stress, and disconnection with family and friends; and

Whereas, Several states and municipalities have banned the practice; and

Whereas, A bill to ban conversion therapy was introduced at the federal level, which stalled in U.S. Congress in 2016; and

Whereas, The Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act, which is based in consumer fraud and focuses on illegalizing any conversion therapy that charges money, was filed in the U.S. Senate in April 2017; now, therefore

The Mayor and Common Council of the City of Milwaukee do ordain as follows:

Part 1. Section 75-19 of the code is created to read:

75-19. Conversion Therapy Prohibited.
1. DEFINITIONS. In this section:
a. “Person” means any natural person, individual, corporation, unincorporated association, proprietorship, firm, partnership, joint venture, joint stock association, or other entity or business organization.
b. “Conversion therapy” means any practices or treatments o...